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A3494 Carex spp. - Typha latifolia - Schoenoplectus pungens Seep Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: The vegetation of this alliance is a mix of short and tall herbaceous wetland plants, including Schoenoplectus pungens, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Typha latifolia, and Carices, such as Carex emoryi, Carex hystericina, Carex lurida, and Carex pellita.This alliance, found in the central Great Plains and western tallgrass prairie, occurs where neutral to acidic mineral-rich groundwater emerges at the surface.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sedge species - Broadleaf Cattail - Common Threesquare Seep Alliance
Colloquial Name: Great Plains Seep
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Dominant species of this alliance are a mix of short and tall herbaceous wetland plants. Tall dominants include Schoenoplectus pungens, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Typha latifolia. Short dominants are typically Carices, such as Carex emoryi, Carex hystericina, Carex lurida, and Carex pellita. Shrubs are occasionally present. This alliance is found in the central Great Plains and western tallgrass prairie where mineral-rich groundwater emerges at the surface, typically at the bases of canyons, steep hills, or on floodplain terraces. The soil is saturated for most or all of the growing season. Soils are hydric peat or muck and show evidence of low oxygen availability.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Seeps/fens in the central Great Plains and western tallgrass prairie with a mix of tall emergents (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Schoenoplectus pungens, Typha spp.) and shorter emergents, particularly Carex emoryi, Carex hystericina, Carex lurida, and Carex pellita.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: ~Carex spp. - Triglochin maritima - Eleocharis quinqueflora Marl Fen (CEGL002268)$$ is currently in its own alliance but should be compared to this alliance as further information is developed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation has moderate to high cover and is less than 1 m tall. Hydrophytic graminoids dominate the vegetation.
Floristics: Diagnostic species of this alliance are not well understood. Typha latifolia is the most common of the taller species. Among the shorter species, Carex emoryi, Carex hystericina, Carex lurida, Carex pellita, Climacium americanum, Equisetum hyemale, Eupatorium perfoliatum, and Scirpus and/or Schoenoplectus spp. are abundant. Shrubs and small trees such as Populus deltoides and Salix spp. are sometimes present and can increase in the absence of fire.
Dynamics: Stands of this alliance are small, usually on the order of a few hundred square meters. Fire spreading from drier adjacent communities may have had an impact on this alliance prior to effective fire suppression (Rolfsmeier and Steinauer 2010).
Environmental Description: This alliance forms on the slopes and at the bases of hills, valleys, and bluffs. Soils are shallow to deep and formed from sandstone, glacial till, loess, and colluvium. Soils are usually sandy with organic matter in the upper layers. Moderately minerotrophic groundwater saturates stands for much or all of the year. Groundwater is neutral to acidic.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the western tallgrass prairie region of western Minnesota, Iowa, northern Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: IA, KS, MO, NE, SD
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899617
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D323 | 2.C.4.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nd.2 Broadleaf Cattail - White Snakeroot - Rush species Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M069 | 2.C.4.Nd.2 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.2.e Prairie Cordgrass - Bluejoint - Sedge species Midwest Wet Prairie, Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp Group | G770 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.e |
| Alliance | A3494 Sedge species - Broadleaf Cattail - Common Threesquare Seep Alliance | A3494 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.e |
| Association | CEGL002033 Broadleaf Cattail - Scouringrush Horsetail - (Bottlebrush Sedge, Woolly Sedge) Seepage Meadow | CEGL002033 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.e |
| Association | CEGL002235 Cattail species - Sedge species Acidic Seepage Meadow | CEGL002235 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.e |
Concept Lineage: This alliance is composed of one association from old A.1465.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Rolfsmeier, S. B., and G. Steinauer. 2010. Terrestrial ecological systems and natural communities of Nebraska (Version IV - March 9, 2010). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lincoln, NE. 228 pp.